Philippines, 07 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


July 13: Shakur Stevenson to Fight Franklin Manzanilla in Newark Homecoming

PhilBoxing.com





NEWARK, N.J. (June 25, 2019) ? Newark native Shakur Stevenson has graduated from co-headliner to center stage performer. Stevenson, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, will return home for the first time as a professional when he faces former world title challenger Franklin Manzanilla in a 10-round featherweight bout Saturday, July 13 at Prudential Center.

Manzanilla replaces original opponent Hairon Socarras, who dropped out of the fight.

Stevenson-Manzanilla and the 12-round IBF bantamweight eliminator for the No. 2 ranking featuring Joshua Greer Jr. and Nikolai Potapov will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

The entire undercard will stream live on ESPN+ ? the leading multi-sport streaming service ? starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and in person at the Prudential Center box office.

?It doesn?t matter who I fight. I am ready to put on a show for my hometown,? Stevenson said. ?Newark is going to be out in full force, and I know a victory on July 13 will move me closer to a world title shot, which is my ultimate goal.?

?I fought for a world title against Rey Vargas in my last fight, and I let that opportunity slip away,? Manzanilla said. ?Against Shakur, I don?t want that to happen to me again. It will be an honor to be in the ring with an Olympian on such a big stage. I am inspired to give the fans a great show and crash the party.?

Stevenson (11-0, 6 KOs), the WBO No. 1 contender, returned from the 2016 Rio Olympics as one of the sport?s most highly touted prospects. He graduated from prospect to contender status in 2018, knocking out longtime contender Viorel Simion in one round as the ESPN-televised co-feature to the Terence Crawford-Jose Benavidez fight in Omaha, Nebraska. Stevenson shined on the Crawford-Amir Khan pay-per-view undercard April 20 at Madison Square Garden, dominating former world title challenger Christopher Diaz over 10 rounds.

Manzanilla (18-5, 17 KOs) is a Colombian power puncher who made his United States debut earlier this year when he challenged unbeaten WBC super bantamweight champion Vargas. He knocked down Vargas in the second round of a rough-and-tumble fight, ultimately dropping a unanimous decision. Manzanilla owns a 2018 TKO victory over former WBC super bantamweight champion Julio Ceja and has only been knocked out once in the paid ranks.

The ESPN+ undercard will include the following fights:

Vijender Singh, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist from India and the only Olympic boxing medalist in his nation?s history, will face Mike Snider (13-5-3, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight bout. Singh last fought in December 2017 and is hoping to get closer to a world title shot with a strong finish to the year.

Joseph ?Blessed Hands? Adorno (12-0, 10 KOs), a 20-year-old knockout artist from Allentown, Pennsylvania, will see action in an eight-round lightweight bout against Dominican veteran Adriano Ramirez (10-3, 6 KOs). Adorno has seven first-round knockouts on his ledger.

Vito Mielnicki Jr. will become the first New Jersey boxer to turn pro at the age of 17 when he fights in a four-round super welterweight bout against Tamarcus Smith (2-2, 2 KOs). Mielnicki received a special exemption to turn pro from the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.

Julian Rodriguez (16-0, 10 KOs), a former amateur sensation from Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, will return from a nearly two-year layoff to fight Hevinson Herrera (24-17-1, 18 KOs) in a six-round super lightweight bout. Before turning pro in September 2013, Rodriguez won a 2013 National Golden Gloves title.

Josue ?The Prodigy? Vargas (13-1, 8 KOs), from the Bronx, will look to extend his winning streak to eight against Manuel Lopez (14-3-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight fight.

John ?El Terrible? Bauza (12-0, 5 KOs) the Puerto Rican-born super lightweight prospect who now resides in North Bergen, New Jersey, will face Mexican veteran Angel Sarinana (10-8-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.

Use the hashtags #StevensonManzanilla and #GreerPotapov to join the conversation on social media.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect  Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
    , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.